Vehicle top-fastening.



W'. W. SCOTT.

VEHICLE TOP FASTENING.

APYLIOATION FILED APR. 5, 1912.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

I 1300610607": fi fl ml (vie/par W W w M 3 WWW WYNN W. SCOTT, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN.

VEHICLE TOP-FASTENING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 5, 1912. Serial No. 688,771.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WVYNN WV. SCOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine and State of Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Top- Fastenings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates more particularly to devices for fastening the pintles of top bows in their supporting brackets or eyes. Its main objects are to facilitate removing and replacing the top bow pintles from and in their supporting brackets or eyes, especially in shifting tops such as are used on automobiles; to prevent rattling of such fastenings; to provide for this purpose, fastenings of a finished and attractive appearance; and generally to improve the construction and operation of devices of this class.

It consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the same parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fastening embodying the invention as partially applied to a bow pintle, the bracket eye in which the pintle is inserted being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fastening as completely applied to the pintle, the bow being shown in cross section; and Fig. 3 is a central horizontal section of the fastening as fully applied to a pintle, the associated bow and bracket eye being also shown in section.

A portion of an ordinary top bow a, provided with a pintle b and a body bracket 0, terminating in an eye (Z in which the pintle b is removably fitted, are shown by the drawin The fastening which constitutes the invention comprises a cap 0, a cotter pin f removably fitted in the transverse hole of the pintle b, and a spiral spring 9 loosely connecting the pin f with the interior of the cap 6 adjacent to its outer or closed end and adapted to exert a torsional strain on the cap when the pin is inserted in the hole of the pintle and the cap is turned into engagement therewith. The cap 6 is prefer ably constructed in two parts, a cylindrical barrel it having a bore of somewhat larger diameter than that of the pintle b on which it is to be used, and an end closure 9'. The barrel h is preferably formed as shown, with external annular ribs or flanges j at its ends, and the end closure z is recessed to fit over one of these flanges and is formed on its inner side around the recess therein with a bendable lip or flange k, which is spun or bent inwardly against the barrel on the inner side of the flange so as to securely fasten and hold the parts together, as shown in Fi In its outer end next to the closure 2, the barrel 0 is formed with two notches and an intervening lug Z, around which one end of the spring y is looped, and on which it is held in place by the closure 2'. The other end of the spring is passed loosely through a hole in the cotter pin f adjacent to one end thereof, and is bent or looped around the pin to loosely confine it in place thereon. The inner open end of the cap a is formed in one side, or preferably in diametrically opposite sides, as shown, with oppositely and obliquely oil'set notches in adapted to receive and engage with the ends of the cotter pin f and to hold the same in place when the parts are assembled in locking position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The rim or periphery of the closure 2' is preferably milled to facilitate turning the cap 0 into and out of locking position.

The fastening is applied by first inserting the cotter pin f in the hole of the pintle I), as shown in Fig. 1, and the cap 6 is then placed over the outer end of the pintlc and turned to the right until the spring 9 is suflicicntly contracted and strained and the notches m are brought opposite the ends of the pin f. The cap is then thrust inward against or toward the eye (Z and released. The spring (I, which is under tension, tend ing to uncoil, forces the inner inclined edges of the notches m against the cottor pin f and the inner end of the cap 0 against the eye (l, thereby taking up play between the parts and tending to prevent rattling and wear. The fastening is removed from the pintle by a reversal of the foregoing operations.

The device is quickly and easily manipulated with the fingers, requiring no tools for its application to or removal from the bow pintle, and in this respect is much more convenient than split cotter pins which are usually used for the purpose, and Which are often inserted in and removed from the pintles With the greatest difliculty, even When pliers are used.

In minor details of construction the fastening may be variously modified Without materially affecting its principle and operation and Without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle top fastening the combination of a cap removably fitting a boW pintle and formed in its open end With an ofiset notch, a pin removably fitting a transverse hole in the pintle and adapted to be engaged by the notch in said cap When the latter is turned into locking position, and a spiral spring loosely connecting said pin With the cap and adapted to exert a torsional strain on the cap When it is turned on the pintle into engagement With the pin inserted therein.

2. In a vehicle top fastening the combination of a cap removably fitted on a boW pintle and formed in its open end With an obliquely offset notch, a cotter pin removably fitted in the hole of the pintle and adapted to be engaged and held in place by the notch in the cap When the latter is set in locking position, and a spiral spring loosely connecting the cotter pin With the interior of the cap adjacent to its outer end and adapted to exert a torsional strain on the cap When it is turned on the pintle into engagement With the pin inserted therein.

3. In a vehicle top fastening the combination of a cap removably fitted on a boW pintle and formed in its open end on opposite sides thereof With oppositely'olfset gagement With the pin inserted in the pintle.

4. In a vehicle top fastening the combina tion of a cap having oppositely and obliquely offset notches in opposite sidesof its open end, a pin fitted at the ends to enter and engage with the notches in the cap When the latter is turned into locking position, and a spiral spring loosely connecting said pin with said cap and adapted to exert a torsional strain on the cap When it is turned into engagement With the pin inserted in the pintle and to prevent accidental disengagement of said parts.

5. In a vehicle top fastening the combination of a cap composed oftwo parts, a barrel and an end closure, the barrel being formed in one end on opposite sides With offset notches and in the other end With a lug, a cotter pin having a hole through it adjacent to one end, and a spiral spring looped at one end around said lug and secured at the other end in the hole ofthe cotter pin.

In Witness whereof I hereto aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

WYNN W. soorr.

Witnesses H. 0. CASE, B. M. KITQIUNGMAN.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. G. 

